Add Valentin Moldavsky to the checklist of names keen to welcome Francis Ngannou to the PFL.
Moldavsky (12-3-1) meets 2022 PFL heavyweight champion Ante Delija (24-5) in Thursday’s 2024 PFL 1 (ESPN2, ESPN+) headliner, which takes place at Boeing Middle in San Antonio.
The previous interim Bellator heavyweight champion is wanting ahead to contemporary blood and potential larger alternatives similar to Ngannou at PFL, however is aware of he has to get via Delija first in his common season opener.
“Clearly all of us attempt to enhance and searching for higher opponents in our future,” Moldavsky mentioned via an interpreter throughout the 2024 PFL 1 media day. “Dealing with Francis sooner or later sooner or later could be nice, however as of now, I must deal with what I’ve in entrance of me. I wish to deal with this struggle. As we are saying, you don’t begin chopping bear’s fur till you kill the bear.”
Moldavsky fought twice each in 2023 and 2022. However now that he’s a part of the PFL’s heavyweight season, he’s excited to ramp up his exercise.
“One of many fundamental issues I like is that I’m going to be extra lively,” Moldavsky mentioned. “As a result of in Bellator, yeah I grew to become heavyweight champion, I fought top-of-the-line heavyweights on the market, however I’d get with Bellator let’s say, two fights a yr?
“Right here, offering that you just maintain profitable, with the match format, you possibly can have 4 fights a yr. For me, that’s what I’m searching for. I’m making an attempt to remain lively, and yeah, I like PFL’s format.”
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for 2024 PFL 1.
You’ll want to go to the MMA Junkie Instagram web page and YouTube channel to debate this and extra content material with followers of combined martial arts.
